BBL - Hurricanes v Heat
HOBART, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 01: Nathan Ellis of the Hurricanes celebrates the wicket of Chris Lynn of the Heat during the Men's Big Bash League match between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Brisbane Heat at Blundstone Arena, on January 01, 2022, in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)
BBL - Hurricanes v Heat

Australian fast bowler Nathan Ellis has signed with the London Spirit for this year's edition of the Hundred, joining an Aussie contingent at the club.

Ellis signed up for a second year at London Spirit after teammate Riley Meredith was ruled out with injury.

Ellis played a critical role in the T20 Blast final after earning a trio of ODIs and T20Is in the past 12 months.

The Australian seamer joins fellow Hampshire and Hobart Hurricanes teammate Ben McDermott, and Glenn Maxwell, before the latter departs for national duty later this month.

Maxwell's departure will see another Australian T20 gun Josh Inglis, who had a superb season with the Spirit in 2021 top scoring with 173 in seven innings, join the Spirit for the remaining games.

Marcus Stoinis (Southern Brave), Sean Abbott (Manchester Originals) and Adam Zampa (Welsh Fire) will all exit the tournament prematurely for Australia's three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe in Far North Queensland.

The ODI series (Aug 28, 31 & Sept 3) will overlap with the tail end of the Hundred, which is due to feature 34 matches from August 3 to September 3.

Adam Zampa told cricket.com.au recently that it would ideal if the schedules between the Hundred and ODIs lined up, but has ensured his priorities lie in playing for Australia.

"In an ideal world the schedule lines up and you don't have to play half (a tournament), but this Zimbabwe tour of the Top End has been years in the making, so I'll be on deck for that," he said.

"I love playing for Australia. The tour to Sri Lanka is the only one I've ever pulled out of, and I don't have any plans on pulling out of any more tours, other than for life-changing events.

"I needed the break mentally and physically, and it was nice to be able to put some time into the family as well, but I've picked up the tools again recently."

Fellow Australians Kane Richardson (Birmingham Phoenix), Matthew Wade (Birmingham Phoenix), Ashton Turner (Manchester Originals), Hilton Cartwright (Oval Invincibles), Tim David (Southern Brave) and Daniel Sams (Trent Rockets) will also feature in the Hundred tournament.